Nepal PM Oath Ceremony: On the auspicious day of Ram Navami, a unique chapter of political history has been written in Nepal. Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader and rapper-singer Balendra Shah took oath as the Prime Minister of Nepal on Friday. He has become the youngest Prime Minister of the country.
Balendra Shah (35 years old) is a structural engineer, former rapper and former mayor of Kathmandu. His party won an overwhelming majority in the parliamentary elections held on 5 March 2026, winning almost two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives. The victory follows a youth-led movement last September that erupted in anger against the old parties and left dozens dead.
This swearing-in ceremony was not only political, but also astrologically and culturally special. Hindu priests fixed the most auspicious time as per astrological calculations at 12:34 pm. This time was falling on the day of Ram Navami and also included the auspicious number pattern of ‘1-2-3-4’.
Shah will enter his office later at 2:15 pm (14:15), which follows the auspicious pattern of ’14-15′. Nepal has a deep tradition of Hinduism and astrology. More than 80 percent of the country’s population is Hindu and people perform new beginnings, marriages or religious rituals only at auspicious times.
The swearing-in ceremony included traditional rituals like blowing of conch shells, chanting of mantras by Hindu priests and Buddhist lamas. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath to Balendra Shah.
Nepal’s politics has been suffering from instability and corruption for a long time. The old parties became victims of resentment among the public. The youth movement of September toppled the government. Balendra Shah had publicly supported the protesters at that time, although he himself did not join the movement. This election is being considered a sign of change for the 3 crore people of Nepal. Young voters have given a chance to a leader with new thinking.
Balendra Shah was born in Kathmandu, but hails from the Terai region near the Indian border. His party is only four years old, yet it registered a massive victory. Now it remains to be seen how effectively the new government can solve the country’s old problems, political instability and corruption.